Oh, Foolish World

 Salvation by Grace Through Faith

 Book of Galatians 3:1-9

 If we are not firm in our beliefs right now, then we need to learn as the Apostle reintroduces the Doctrine of Salvation to these Galatians.

 We must understand that we can have the most solid church in the world, but if we allow one false preacher or teacher to come into our church with his false message, it will cause confusion to one or more of our brothers and sisters, and it may take months to straighten out the mess they leave behind.

 Salvation comes to us only through God's " Grace" and only through our "Faith" in Him!

 Faith is accepting that the Word of God is true! Not just a few words but all His Word. Not just certain Words but all His Word! Not just the red letters, but all the letters.

 If we get confused by the red letters, which are the very words of Jesus, then get a Bible written all in black ink.

We can remember “grace” as “God’s Riches at Christ's Expense”.

 The Spirit of Jesus, God's Holy Ghost caused all the Scriptures to be written according to what God wanted to say.

 All the writers were like typewriters with the Holy Spirit leading their fingers to the right keys or as the printer with God inserting all the letters of type.

 From last week's lesson, we read:

 Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, “but by the faith of Jesus Christ”, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”. 

 Paul has already taught these Galatians that no one can keep those 613 Jewish Laws to God’s satisfaction, nor can any man-made law save anyone.

Our own government writes biased laws that will never accomplish anything.

 Every Jew sought “righteousness” through those old laws, and this is the reason that they had to bring a sacrifice to the High Priest which brought forgiveness for one year only.

 The next day after that sacrifice they were already guilty of sin again.

 There is only one way to meet God's demands, and it is by "faith" in the work of His Son, the Messiah, who has completed to save us.

It is easy to say God’s demands or God’s commands when everything God does is for our salvation and eternal life.

Jehovah God has never been unrighteous!

 Any doctrine that makes the death of Jesus Christ unnecessary for our salvation is irreverent toward our Heavenly Father and revolting to Christians who know better!

 These Galatians had taken their eyes off of Jesus and looked to the world for the truth, and many a church has done this today.

Just look at how many places of worship closed their doors and refused to celebrate the birth of our Savior. The Church is the Body of Christ.

It is a shame that we cannot celebrate our Savior which began with His miracle birth!

In order to die for our sins, God had to pour Himself into a body of flesh that could die and then resurrect from that death because God simply cannot die, but He raised Himself to show us the power of His resurrection.

 To bewitch is the work of a Sorcerer!

 It is believed that these Judaizers were influential Jews who were gladly accepted into the Church in Antioch and were immediately given positions of authority and their full intention was to destroy the Church and grow Judaism.

 It was intentional.

It was revolting.

It was wicked.

It was Devilish.

It is clearly seen that our teachers and preachers need to be vetted or well-known for the truth before they are allowed to teach in any church or any place of worship.

 We had better realize that religious rituals have saved nobody.

 We had better know that a false doctrine only opens the gates of Hell and there is no escape.

 There is no such place as purgatory and those who believe only put some so-called priest in a new luxury car as I saw in Mexico as they wear holes in the collection boxes trying to pay God to move that soul from a so-called purgatory to Heaven.

 *****Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 

 That word “foolish” means; void of understanding sound judgment.

 In Scripture it means wicked, sinful, acting without regard to Divine Law or the Glory of God.

 It can also mean proceeding from depravity.

 One of the most stupid things we can do is to leave the Church after we have heard and understood the truth!

 The Greek word that was used also meant to be foolish or unwise.

 The Apostle Paul was just saying, why have you Galatians allowed these people to come in and rob you of your happiness?

 The "Good News" of Jesus Christ brings happiness when any news of this world will rob us of our happiness!

 It is the errors of this world that totally ruins our lives and our future lives!

 The simple way that Jesus has made for us to get to our real home just seems too hard for many people and they falsely believe they must have to do something to earn it when there is nothing we can do but be obedient to the Word of God, all the Word of God.

 2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

 So many people believe that we need to hear from some great mighty man of God such as the way that the Catholics see the Pope, to be able to understand the simplicity of salvation that they just cannot imagine a God so humble that He would die for them.

 In truth, we do not have to understand it, for who can explain "Grace"?

 Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God!

 Without God's "Grace," there is no saving power.

 One of the greatest Scriptures in the entire Bible says:

 Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 False teaching can stop all salvations in every place of worship!

 It was the Law that placed Jesus Christ upon that cross!

It was love that kept Him there.

It was "Grace" that made Him do all these things.

 God would have sinned Himself had He not died for His creations!

 When those fancy-mouthed religionists came to the Church in Antioch it was to put a stop to Christianity, and they could have succeeded if not for the power of Grace.

 Grace still means: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

 Errors deceive people and when those errors are intentional, they will destroy you!

 The word bewitched means to fascinate, or cast a spell, to mislead or deceive.

 The Judaizers were very capable, persuasive speakers with dynamic personalities.

 They had charisma as some would say.

 These are qualities I sometimes wish I had, but in reality, if you get any knowledge from these things I say every week then you got them from the Holy Spirit because I do not possess those qualities.

 I just try to go where the Lord leads me.

 When those Judaizers spoke, the things they said just made sense to  these baby Christians.

 When they said, you need to keep such and such ritual, it just made sense.

When they said, surely there must be some work that needed to be done, it just made sense.

When they said God had certain laws for us to obey, it just made sense.

 It all sounded reasonable and logical, but it was all false teaching!

 God said we might never understand His "Grace", and we may never understand the amazing love of God!

 We do not have to completely understand "Grace", we just have to have "faith" that what the Lord Jesus did for us was what is needed for us to be saved.

 Be sure to understand that if not for Jesus, we would have certainly seen the wrath of God on our person.

 We will never understand the wrath of God without a complete understanding of God's holiness.

 Since God is a Holy God then those around and near Him must also be holy!

 God cannot be near sinners for very long because in our flesh we can never be holy unless we are a home for the Holy Spirit.

 All those who do not have the presence of the Holy Spirit in them will feel the wrath of God!

 The Word of God tells us that showing His wrath is the proper thing for Him to do at sinners.

 Isa 5:24  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 

Isa 5:25  Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

 The truth is error will lead us away from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will only lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The elements of love and compassion are always connected to God's anger and He would rather show these than His anger, but His anger is promised if there is no repentance.

 When Paul preached, he preached the straight truth that Jesus Christ took our place on that cross and by this action, He took away all our sins and put them upon Himself.

 Jesus Christ bore the punishment for everyone who has ever lived and forever who will come in the future until He returns to take us home.

 Why is it so hard to understand that God sent His Son into this world to die for us?

Why is it so hard to believe that God expects all His creation to understand this?

Why is it so hard to believe that God took their faith and love in His Son and accepted them for their righteousness?

 Over eighty percent of this world believes in some god, I just believe that my God is the most powerful of them all and that He would never lie to me about anything.

 If this makes me to be a fool, then so be it but my God says they are the ones who are fools!

 Just how do we receive the Holy Spirit?

 *****Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

 Just how do we receive the Holy Spirit?

Just how do we begin our Christian Walk?

 There is one thing all believers know and the believers in the churches of Galatia knew it too: no person earns, wins, or merits the Holy Spirit of God!

 We are too polluted and with all the news about "climate change," we all know something about pollution and what it means to us today.

It amazes me that people want to clean up this earth but do not want to clean up their lives!

 We all fall far too short of the glory of God to get anywhere near the Holy Spirit!

 Even when sinners are doing nothing at all, their minds are usually in the gutter or they are planning their next sinful act.

 If we go back to the very day that we got saved, we know that it was by faith that we received the Holy Spirit because there is no law in the Bible that allows for this to take place!

 We know by what happened in our own heart that God took our faith and counted it for righteousness and the Holy Spirit moved right on in.

 Since the Holy Spirit has moved in there no evil spirit can ever move back in because the Holy Spirit is far too powerful to allow that to happen.

 We may not be what we could be by complete obedience to the Holy Spirit and for certain we can grieve the Holy Spirit, but He will never leave us neither will He forsake us.

 Jhn_14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Jhn_14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Jhn_15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Jhn_16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 These are all things that the Holy Spirit will do when He enters into us!

 He will not enter into us without our faith in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done to save us.

 Those who question if there is such a God will know the answer to that question once they accept the truth of Jesus.

 Every person must hear the glorious message of "Faith"!

 Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 Each believer can only grow and be perfected after that person has preached the Word of God to them.

 The hearing of "faith" is the only way a person can ever become acceptable to God!

 The Holy Spirit is God's gift to each believer!

 This gift cannot be earned.

This gift cannot be won.

The Holy Spirit can only be given and can only be given by Jehovah God!

 The Holy Spirit is given at the moment of our salvation, and the Bible refers to this giving as what we would call a down payment.

 Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 In the days of the depression people would put back what they called "earnest" money to be used in an emergency or maybe a downpayment on an item they sorely needed but could not afford.

 The word earnest in the Greek meant a pledge or token given as assurance of the fulfillment of a promise.

 As a believer, we need to focus our love, our attention, and our life upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Without this, we cannot be accepted by God the Father.

 Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 

 These Galatians had already suffered greatly because they had first accepted Christ.

 *****Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 

 If we do not know now, we will suffer because we have placed our faith in the God of the Bible, Jesus the Messiah.

 This happened immediately to the Jews for forsaking Judaism.

 They suffered ridicule, abuse, isolation, and persecution from any Jew who knew them beforehand.

 Since this suffering had already taken place for believing the truth, they would surely look foolish if they turned away from the Lord Jesus so, they suffered in vain.

 If they repented and came back to Christ,  then this suffering would have not been in vain.

 In fact, every Christian who turns away from this world and turns toward Jesus the Messiah will still suffer today.

 Such things as "denying self" would at first bring some suffering.

 "Taking up our own cross" and following the Lord Jesus would have suffering.

 Just "separating" ourselves from this world will bring suffering, even today, especially in certain countries.

 The Lord Jesus said many of our rewards and blessings would come from this action against us.

 Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

 Then Paul asked these Galatians again just how did you obtain the Holy Spirit?

 *****Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 We can be sure that we will receive nothing from God unless we have this "saving faith"!

 Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

 I know we see this Scripture a lot, but we need to realize just how important our faith is.

 No one would climb aboard an airplane if they did not have the faith that it was safe to do so.

 In fact, no one could even sit down in a chair if they did not have enough faith that chair would hold them up.

 Faith is important to us in our everyday life, but it is most important when we put that faith in the hands of the Supreme God!

 Our faith is not what it is, our faith is what it does!

 Our "Faith" does the necessary work so that we do not have to do any work for our salvation.

 A wise man once said; "The only thing I can give to Jesus toward my salvation is a dirty rotten sinner".

 We know that the Apostles of Christ had some power to heal along with some other powers shared with them by the Holy Spirit, but it always was built around faith.

 So, these Galatians had seen some miracle healing and some other miracles.

 Act 14:8  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 

Act 14:9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 

Act 14:10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 

 Now we must not be confused about these powers the Holy Spirit shared with the Apostles. 

Today we have the complete Canon of Scripture, and these powers are not given to men.

 We should be able to understand that miracles did not happen at random throughout Scripture but occurred in three major periods.

 1) In the days of Moses and Joshua.

2) In the days of Elijah and Elisha.

3) In the days of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

 There were select miracles outside the scope of time, but not many.

 During this time of Jesus and the Apostles, miracles were given to authenticate a message!

 God gave enough of His power to these men and in these periods only, along with a New Message, the “Good News”.

 Miracles came in the time of the New Testament to validate the New Message given by Jesus Christ to the Apostles.

 With the completion of the canon of Scripture the need for miracles as validating a sign disappeared.

 Any miracle associated with the Word of God today is done by God Himself!

 The gift of miracles is much broader than the gift of healing.

 The gift of miracles would also mean "power" or "a work of power".

 There is also a distinction between miracles and the gift of miracles.

 Still, the ability of any individual to perform miraculous acts ceased with the Apostolic Age.

 God does times still answer the prayer of a believer but this is His choice and for His reasons, but He does not do this through a medium of another person.

 Those who claim such power today are false preachers and liars!

 Again, God may heal in response to prayers, and He does I am living proof!

Even when God allowed this power to a few men, we should remember that God did not heal every person including the Apostle Paul.

 2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

 Paul admitted that he was stronger under God's power than he would have been if God had healed him, and it is the same for most all of us. I know it is for me!

 There is no longer a need for any of the powers given to men because we have the full Canon of Scripture given to us by the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit who provides the things we need working through the truth of the Gospel and our "Faith".

Remember there was a city where even Jesus could not perform any major miracle because they had no faith.

Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 

Mar 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 

Mar 6:6  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. 

Next Paul gives us the example of Abraham.

 *****Gal 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 

Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

 All Abraham needed was the "Word of God" and "his faith" in it!

 Abraham was justified by his faith alone!

 What is the truth?

 It was the Word of God that promised Abraham the "Good News" of the Messiah even though it could not happen during his lifetime.

It was the Word of God that told Abraham that the Law puts man under a curse.

It was the Word of God that promised that only the Messiah could redeem Abraham from that curse.

 Abraham was the founder of the Jewish nation, but Abraham was a Gentile!

 It was Abraham who was the first Ambassador of God. He left the only home he knew and was searching for a new home, a Promised Home.

 Abraham left a place where many gods were worshipped and Abraham began to worship the One True God, Jehovah.

 Abraham's one work was for him to follow the Word of God and have faith in the Truth of God. Abraham had to believe, and he did.

Not many of us would have been like Abraham yet we frown on the few times that Abraham failed God.

 Abraham left his family, his friends, his job, and his nation to go to a place he had never seen nor ever heard of.

 Abraham believed God and he was judged righteous for that one reason!

 Abraham had no law to follow the laws of Moses had not been given!

 Abraham simply believed what God told him!

 We should know that God did not give these same promises to anyone else.

 Rom 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Rom 4:18  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 

 Abraham's faith preceded his obedience to God, and it is the same for us today.

 *****Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 

 God promised the Gospel to Abraham many years ago and Abraham knew he would never see its completion, but Abraham was looking out for his children at a time when Abraham did not have any children.

 Abraham trusted God to give him children from a barren woman!

 To Paul, the Scripture was the Word of God just as we believe today, and it is true.

There was no Bible for Abraham to place his faith.

Abraham had a voice in his head or some vision to place his faith.

 The Scriptures declared the Gospel truth from the time of creation!

 It was by Abraham's faith that he was justified because Abraham was not a perfect man and none of us can be until we believe and God accounts that faith it for our righteousness.

 Abraham did finally have one son who was Issac, a miracle birth.

 When we study the Word of God, we will see that the events in the life of Isaac were a parallel to the life of Jesus Christ.

 1) Isaac had a miraculous birth:

 Gen 15:2  And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 

Gen 15:3  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir. 

Gen 15:4  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. 

 2 Isaac (was delivered) Isaac was to be offered up as a sacrifice.

 Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 

Heb 11:18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 

 3) Isaac was delivered from death by a miracle of God.

 Gen 22:10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 

Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 

Gen 22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 

Gen 22:13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 

Gen 22:14  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 

 Heb 11:19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 

 So today, as we witness for Jesus Christ, it is the truth of the Gospel that will win every lost soul.

 We do not need to change it but teach it as it is the truth of God.

Salvation still comes by Grace through Faith in the promises of God found only one place in the Scriptures given to us by the Holy Spirit who lives in every Christian.

In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ still walks this earth in the body of every Christian.

Amen

We Must Not Become Hypocrites or Christ Died for Nothing

 Paul Confronts Peter

 Book of Galatians Chapter 2 Verse 11 through 21

 There is a short verse in the Book of Thessalonians that we need to learn, understand, and adhere to, throughout our Christian Walk.

 1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

 There are virtues we need to cultivate in our devotion to God and this Scripture is far more important than we realize when we first read it.

 We sometimes forget that the Holy Spirit lives within us. 

When we "grieve the Holy Spirit," we lose any power we have as Christians and are no longer a good witness for the truth of Jesus Christ.

 1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 

1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

 It was no different for the Apostle Peter, and the Apostle Paul awoke Peter to this fact.

 We know that Paul was clearing up a few things for these Thessalonians before he began his discussion on the Rapture and the return of Jesus Christ.

 This Church had a special need for guidance and sometimes even our most devoted Christians also need additional guidance.

 We will never reach a point in our lives that we should not be growing in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

 Sanctification is a lifelong project!

 At Jerusalem, all Church leaders had confirmed Paul’s authority!

 We know that Peter had been the leader of the Apostles from day one.

 Though we cannot make excuses for the actions of Peter, we must insist that we all need to watch our conduct at all times for it seems that someone is always watching for good or bad reasons.

 Act 15:22  Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 

Act 15:23  And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: 

Act 15:24  Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 

Act 15:25  It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 

Act 15:26  Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Act 15:27  We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 

Act 15:28  For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 

 This Silas and this Judas were two men from the Church at Jerusalem who would verify the results of the first Council of the Church, to these Galatians.

 They were chief men of the Church at Jerusalem.

 Later we will see that this same Silas also known as Silvanus as the companion of Paul on his second missionary journey.

 Silas became a great missionary himself.

 It seems that Silas, like Paul, was also a Roman citizen.

 Silas was with Paul when they were in jail where the Philippian jailer and all his family got saved.

 Act 16:25  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 

Act 16:26  And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed. 

Act 16:27  And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. 

Act 16:28  But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. 

 It is verse 37 that tells us that both Paul and Silas were both Roman citizens.

 Act 16:37  But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, “being Romans”, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

 Not much else is known about Barsabas other than he was a great man of the Church in Jerusalem.

 This Judas surnamed Barsabas, seems to have been gifted the gift of prophecy which at that time could have meant that he was one of the Preachers at the Church in Jerusalem and he returned to that Church.

 It was after these things had taken place that the Apostle Peter visited this Church in Antioch.

 It also appears those Judaizers had remained in this Church at Antioch.

 This is the background where we see Paul confront Peter, and he had every right to do so though we may not know the whole story, we do know that the Holy Spirit included it in these writings of Paul.

 *****Gal 2:11  But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 

Gal 2:12  For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.

Gal 2:13  And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 

Gal 2:14  But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 

 We may not know the exact reasons that Peter came to the Church in Antioch, but who would turn down the leader of the Apostles if he came down to visit.

 Paul may even have invited Peter to visit at any time.

 This Church at Antioch was a great church, but it was also the first Gentile Church established outside of Jerusalem.

 This church was a mission minded church, and it was important that a good example was set before all the Gentiles and the Jews, but especially before the Gentiles by the Jews.

 When Peter arrived in Antioch he sat down with and enjoyed the company of the Gentiles, as we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. We all have the same Father!

 When some other Judaizers came to visit at Antioch they were astounded that Peter was enjoying such fellowship with these Gentiles and he had allowed those same Judaizers to rebuke him for eating with the Gentiles who they still considered to be Heathen.

 We know Peter was a great Preacher and a great man of God, but this thing could ruin his testimony unless it was stopped immediately.

 It went against the decisions made at that First Church Council.

 This thing caused Peter to stumble for a moment.

 If the great Apostle Peter could stumble, we can be sure that we can!

Even today, the most used excuse used by the "Lost" is, that we the Church are all a bunch of hypocrites.

I used to say this myself and it shames me.

 Peter sure acted like one and we know these things are true or this story would not be in the Bible.

 It should be obvious to us that Peter's error was not in preaching a false doctrine.

 The error Peter made was using bad judgment!

 Though we seek moral perfection it evades us much of the time.

 We can believe that this situation was provided by the Devil and these same Judaizers were still full of the Devil, and they would haunt the Apostle Paul most of all his days.

 In Peter's case, we find him bold and then timid many times, even when Christ was teaching him.

 These are not excuses, but just the truth!

We are not to judge Peter when we know God has forgiven him.

 Remember Peter preached one sermon where over three thousand souls were saved in one day.

 I have not heard of anyone else who had such results from one sermon.

 We can also realize that Paul rebuked Peter for this one thing, and it needed to be done, but Paul was not rude to Peter nor was Paul showing personal animosity.

 Without a doubt we can see that both Paul and Peter possessed the same Holy Spirit just as we all do.

 These things did not cause friction between Paul and Peter as Peter wrote.

 2Pe 3:15  And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 

2Pe 3:16  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 

2Pe 3:17  Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 

2Pe 3:18  But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. 

 In reality we can still blame these Judaizers who continued to cause turmoil in the Church even though they were rebuked at the Jerusalem Council.

 I do not know of any man of God who has already reached perfection except for those who are already with the Lord.

 Paul and Peter are both in perfection today!

 Paul also knew these things as he wrote.

 Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 

Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

 When this thing passed Paul was still missionary to the Gentiles, but he would still drop by a Synagogue of the Jews if the opportunity arose and Peter was still missionary to the Jews, but he would still help any Gentile who had a need and he may have dropped in on all the Gentile churches from time to time

 Both these great men of God had death sentences on their heads, but God kept them protected until God took them home.

 *****Gal 2:15  We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 

Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 Every believer, no matter where we come from, is justified by one thing and it is our "faith".

 Not just any faith, but faith in the work that Our Lord Jesus Christ has done so that we can be saved.

 Paul admitted that he was a Jew by nature.

 The Jews considered themselves to be religionists and the Gentiles to be Heathen Gentile sinners.

 We could say "rank sinners".

 Paul is saying that if the Jews being religionists would claim the same thing the Gentile Sinners claimed, who believed in the work of Jesus Christ, then they all could confess they were saved by "faith".

 Any Jew who came to Jesus Christ for salvation was admitting that their religion, their works, and their law were not able to save them. Only the same faith that the Gentiles had could save them!

 Is there a work that any man can do or any law that can make us perfect? That answer is no!

 If our salvation depends on any work or any law, then we are lost as Job's Turkey and Job did not have any turkeys.

 God says we have only one hope! Faith in Jesus Christ.

 The word "justified" means to reckon, to credit, to account, to judge, to look upon as righteous.

 It does not mean to make us righteous!

 We are not made righteous,  but we are accounted as righteous!

 Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 

 Rom 3:21  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 Justification is necessary because we are born sinners!

 We cannot live as we desire, we must live as God desires, and until we are saved,  we are the enemies of God, even though He still loves us.

 Those who are not saved do not want God in their lives, they have alienated themselves from God.

 This is not God's choice but our choice!

Remember it is God’s will that we all be saved!

 We cannot turn away from God and then expect the blessings of God!

 Why would God justify any man?

 God will only "justify" any man because of Jesus Christ.

 God will credit our faith as righteousness if our faith is in Jesus Christ!

 Jesus Christ has secured the ideal righteousness for each of us!

 Jesus did this when He came to this earth and lived a righteous and sin free life!

 Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

Rom 5:7  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Rom 5:11  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement. 

 The world refuses to understand that Our Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to die!

 By His death, all sinners can be saved if they were willing to trust what God has done for us.

 2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

 Jesus came to die, but Jesus also came to resurrect from that death, because God cannot stay dead. 

It is impossible for Him to do so!

 It is His life from the dead that has given us eternal life!

 *****Gal 2:17  But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 

Gal 2:18  For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 

 Does Jesus Christ make us sinners, by our trusting in Him that we are justified by faith in Him alone?

 Is Jesus Christ a minister of sin?

 Are we sinners because we reject the law?

 It is the Law that makes us sinners, for the Law condemns sin!

 The law only shows us where our failures are!

 Gal_3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal_3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

 When we sit down and think about what God has done for us, we are driven to please God and not rebel against Him.

 Jesus Christ bore all our guilt and all our punishment for the crimes that we committed against His Father.

 When we bow to our Heavenly Father, it is for our love and adoration in appreciation for such "Amazing Love" that He has for us.

 We try to be good, not to earn righteousness, but to serve Him because He has saved us.

 Jesus Christ teaches us that "Love" is a much greater force upon this Earth than "fear"!

 1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 

 We cannot ever repay God for what He has done for us, and it is a sin to even try to.

 We are bought and paid for with the blood of Jesus Christ!

So He does own us, not just because He created us, but because He sent His Son to reclaim His right to us and all He asks of us, is to enjoy life and our reasonable service.

 Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Ecc_5:18  Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.

 God wants us to enjoy this life He has given to us keeping in mind that nothing upon this earth is as great as the things in Heaven.

 We should also keep in mind that there is no life if we do not have the truth of God in our lives.

 If we do not believe our good fortune comes by the hands of God, then we do not believe in the omnipotence of God.

 This is not teaching a prosperity Gospel, but our Heavenly Father does take care of His children.

This sometimes means that when we are suffering, He may take us home rather than heal us.

No one loves us as much as our Heavenly Father!

 We will find that the closer our walk with Jesus the more we will enjoy life, and it does not take much prosperity to enjoy life!

 *****Gal 2:19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

 There are some things we must do to live unto God.

 1) We must die to the law!

 People have a bad habit of comparing themselves to other people in order to show that they are better or worse than those people.

 To be a Christian, we must compare ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and we will immediately see that we just do not measure up.

 The Lord Jesus Christ lived a short thirty-three or more years in the flesh, and He lived a sinless life in every one of those years. 

We do well to live one day without sin!

 The Law shows me just how much of a sinner I am and how far I am from the goodness of my Lord Jesus.

 I will never reach perfection as long as I am in this body of flesh!

 The law tells me I need to be punished for my sin, and that punishment is my payment for the sin I have committed.

 Rom 6:22  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 

Rom 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

 My "faith" in the work of Christ will release me from the power of sin to keep me in bondage!

 The only hope I have to get to Heaven is to die to the law!

 2) I must be crucified with Jesus Christ!

 How can I do such a thing?

 I must believe that the Lord Jesus died in my place! He took my death to Himself!

 My Lord Jesus bore the punishment for my sin, so I do not have to.

 It is my "faith" in this truth that counts for my having died in Christ.

It is my "faith" in my identifying with Christ that counts for my pardon.

It is my "faith" in the Lord having already been punished for my sin that counts for my freedom from the bondage of sin.

 Rom 6:3  Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 

Rom 6:4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 

Rom 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 

Rom 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin. 

We should be able to see that these are the words our Pastor uses when we are Baptized.

 3) I can now live for God because God lives in me!

 I am crucified with Christ and God sees me as having already died and like His Son, I have resurrected from that death!

 The Lord Jesus Christ is now in charge of my life, He owns me!

 The Lord Jesus Christ is still walking upon this earth because He is walking in my body!

 I am just a branch growing and getting nourishment from the Vine that was my old body but is now the Body of Christ.

 Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 

Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

Joh 15:7  If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 

 4) I can now live for God because I trust in the "Grace" of God!

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the "Righteousness of my God".

 If I set aside the "Grace of God" then My Lord, My Savior died for nothing!

 Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 

Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 

Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 

 We know that Paul had to confront Peter because there is just too much to lose if we do not gain the life of Jesus Christ!

 Amen

The Gospel

 The Origin of the Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1 verses 11 through 24

 The Word "Gospel" is the English word used to translate the Greek word for "good news".

 The Greek word for the English word “Gospel” is “evangelical”, so the writers of this “good news” are best known as Evangelists.

 In reality, the word Gospel means the proclamation of pardon, mercy, and peace in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If the word "Gospel" is used in any other way, it is a false gospel.

 All those men who are partakers of its saving Grace, who are commissioned to preach it, are to be considered beautiful.

 Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

 In the New Testament "Gospel" has two shades of meaning.

 1) The actual message of Jesus Christ.

 Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

 2) It is the story told about Jesus after His death and His resurrection, in the Scriptures like we are studying today.

 *****Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the embodiment of the Gospel!

 Without the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no Gospel, period.

 To certify is to declare that the Gospel is the truth of God's Son and, therefore the truth of God!

 The Gospel is not in agreement with the ways of man, nor the values of man!

 The Gospel is on a much higher plane!

 In verse 10 from last week, Paul proclaimed: "Am I seeking the favor of men or God". "Do I seek to please men or to please God" being "God the Son Jesus Christ", "God's Messiah".

 Verse eleven continues, with people saying that Paul did not follow the Lord Jesus when He was alive on this earth, so how could he possibly know any Gospel?

 They say Paul was teaching a man-made Gospel taught by a misguided man, speaking of Paul.

 Paul the Apostle Preached what was given to him by Jesus Christ Himself!

 The word “revelation” means a truth that is shared by God with man, a truth that man never knew.

 The "Gospel" Paul preached was given to him by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

 The Gospel is God's wisdom not the wisdom of this world and we can include the time we live in today.

 The world's wisdom includes many approaches to finding the truth and the meaning of life and the many approaches to finding the problems of evil and death, but these things have eluded the world and are unable to be found.

 The world's wisdom is full of lies and theories.

 The wisdom of the world says there is no God. He does not exist.

 Way back in time, as far back as the mind can go, something, some element, some molecule, some atom, some gas has brought forth all the things we see today.

 To some, the wisdom of the world says God may exist, but after creating all the things we see, has moved on to do other things having no concern for the things He made.

 The wisdom of this world says that God may exist, but He used evolution to create all the things we see which is still a fantasy.

 These are just some of the things we go up against as Christians, when we reach out to those who are lost!

 1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

 The Gospel is not a human thing, it did not originate with man as many say.

The Gospel is not the "good news" from some men as they say.

The Gospel is not to be preached as a message handed down from one generation to the next.

 The Gospel is to be preached as the single fact that Jesus Christ did reveal Himself with the truth of His life, the truth of His death, and the truth of His resurrection.

 These Galatians had asked themselves: did Paul preach the truth of Jesus Christ or not?

 1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

 1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 There are not as many who believe that all the things of this world happened by accident as the world confesses and it is time they stood up and listened to the truth before it is too late.

 Paul did not ever try to hide his past life!

 Our past life is not remembered in Heaven, but we will be reminded of it by our enemies, and it would not hurt for us to look back and see how far the Gospel has removed us from our past life. We are new creatures because of the Gospel.

 *****Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

 If we look at Paul's life before He met the Lord Jesus upon the Damascus Road, we will see the terrible things he did to the Church.

 We could say it was nothing short of a miracle that could account for the change that had taken place in the life of Paul.

 Paul wrote: Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 The Apostle Paul had a radical change of life!

 When we read the Scriptures, this is clearly seen!

 Paul had launched his attack on the Church at the death of Stephen.

 Paul had been a supreme example of self-righteousness.

 Paul became an example of the true Christian.

 Paul had blazed a path for Christian persecution.

 Paul now blazed a path for the salvation of the Lost.

 The Lord Jesus set Paul apart and called him by His "Grace".

 Paul began to believe that God had called him even before his birth.

 *****Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

 Paul began to believe that he was now doing what God had intended for him to do from his birth forward and he was.

 Every Christian should realize that we are now in the will God had for us from the beginning of our lives, just as He did the prophet Jeremiah.

 Jeremiah became a prophet of God, and we become witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 All those who have been called to separation from this evil world understand what Paul is saying here.

 God has a plan for all of us and that plan began at our birth, but most of us were like Paul, we did not realize it until we met Jesus.

 Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 Paul reminded others of the same.

 2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

 The source of our change was the purpose of God!

The means of our change was His calling by the Holy Spirit.

The result of that change is that we might teach Jesus Christ to the Lost.

 For Paul, his job was to reach the Gentile world that God had included and not just the Jews!

 Thank you, Lord God for I was once a heathen, but now one of your children.

 I was never worthy of your "Grace"!

 The job of the Apostle Paul was to be a vessel to reveal Jesus Christ!

 We must understand that we are not called just to come to know Jesus Christ, we are also called to make Christ known to others.

 We must bear witness to what Jesus Christ has done in our lives.

 God has given us all the Gospel to study and to preach.

 The world needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ not the message of wicked men.

 It is every day now that we can still hear the crying and the moaning because a wicked president has been defeated.

 America should be ready to hear the message of Jesus Christ.

 Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 Only Jesus Christ has the message that the world is seeking the answer to!

 How to live forever!

 Far too many people wake up in Hell who spent their lives and their finances, searching for the means of eternal life having rejected the Gospel, the “Good News” of our Savior.

 Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 Paul was called by the Lord Jesus and then taught by the Lord Jesus Christ how to teach the world about Him.

 *****Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

 The spread of the Gospel was beginning to produce real fruit and much of the world did not like it.

Just like today, Satan cannot stand to see the Truth of God, the Gospel, to take fruit in our world and he will do everything he can to stop it.

I have never heard so many lies as they are told today about the true Church.

If those who hinder the spread of the truth of God did not have our biased news sources under their wings, they could not cause the havoc that they do.

I cannot understand why this world is so afraid of Jesus Christ!

Now I am nothing compared to the Apostle Paul, but what was he guilty of?

Paul was attacked from every side and the only thing he had done was to tell the truth to a world that cannot stand the truth about a man named Jesus who spent just a few years going about doing good.

Paul’s real guilt was that he had become a Christian and had forsaken Judaism though Paul still kept the Laws of Moses.

What were they afraid of?

The Lord Jesus did not just declare to be God, He was and is God in a world where many have multiple gods and the most evil have riches which is their god.

How can the world be mad about Jesus when the entire world has their gods whom they worship?

I tell you why, it is because the world is afraid of the truth and those who get richer every day. After all, there are great riches in wickedness and immorality.

They went after Paul because Paul proclaimed the power of the Gospel and was a living example of a Christian. 

God said: (Isa_55:11)  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The world is afraid that there might be a real God!

You see the Bible from the true Received Text, is filled with the actual words of God!

Paul was not lying because Jehovah God cannot lie!

Heb_6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

In fact, the only thing that is impossible for Jehovah God to do is to tell a lie!

Paul knew this and every child of God had better know this and the lost world will find out that the Word of God is all truth.

Now if this frightens you, then all you need to do is to have a personal conversation with Jesus.

Some call Him God, but I call Him Savior, and I call Him Friend, and I call Him Father just as the Apostle Paul did!

Paul continues:

*****Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

 We look at and hear of all the things that are going on in Syria today and we can say that for a period of time, there was some great churches in Syria.

 I might not should say it, but Syria went to pots since the Muslims have maintained rule.

 Paul had to leave because there were so many who threatened Paul's life.

 They brought Paul down to Caesarea and then to Tarsus which was Paul's home town and he had many friends and family there.

 It is this Tarsus where Barnabas had found Paul to get Him back into the functions of the Church at Antioch, Syria.

 Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 It is around this time that a great famine came to the world, the parts ruled by the Romans, during the time of Claudius Caesar.

 This is exactly what happens when there is war!

 The militaries of Rome caused great destruction in the fields and those who fought against them could not tend to their fields to raise crops.

 Those men who cause war are foolish!

 Only those who build the armaments and make the bullets and war machinery get rich.

 Those who hold great riches usually finance both sides the, enemy, and those who fight by necessity, and their riches grow immensely.

 Paul took advantage of his time in Tarsus and the surrounding areas.

 This is what Jesus told all of us to do: Luk 8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

 Paul was treated with respect in his hometown, and they listened to what great things the Lord had done in Paul's life.

 *****Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

 There will always be those who will see the change that a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring.

 Those who know the best are usually our family and some of them will listen to our testimony.

 Maybe some of our childhood friends will listen to our testimony.

 We can be certain that those in and around Jerusalem had heard of the changes in the life of Paul, who was still Saul to them, until they heard his story.

 In most cases, those who love us will glorify God who can make such great changes in people.

 The Lord Jesus commanded every Christian to do this; Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 We will do this if we show the love God has shown to us through His Son Jesus!

 Amen

Grace is Still the Way to Heaven

 Danger of a Different Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1

 The people native to Galatia were emotional, impulsive, and changeable people.

 They were fickle, impetuous, arguing, loud, boastful, and immoral people.

 They had a love for the strange, the curiosities, and the unknown.

 They were attached to a false religion that was a worship of nature, and these types of people are all over the world today, nature lovers.

 Galatia was an area that had a heavy population of Jews who were staunch in the religion of Judaism.

 There were also many Greeks who had a strong Hellenistic influence.

 Hellenists were normal people who spoke the Greek language.

 Some Jews were also called Hellenists because they had settled in foreign countries and had adopted the prevalent form of Greek civilization.

 Act 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 

Another verse says.

 Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

 These were Jews who had become Greeks in their beliefs.

 We can also find them at the first Church in Antioch.

 Act 11:20  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

 Some of these were also true Greeks who had become proselytes of Judaism.

 We can see that Paul knew beforehand that planting a Church in Galatia would be no easy task.

 It is only the Gospel that has such power of conversion because it is the truth!

 The message of the Book of Galatians will pierce the heart of any generation.

 The message of the Book of Galatians will also stir Christians to action if we understand its message.

 *****Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Notice Paul immediately establishes that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ and God the Father who had raised the Lord Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Paul introduces Galatia to the triune God.

 What was Paul's commission?

 John 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

 What is the Great Commission?

 Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 

 The phrase "and is baptized” simply means "making a public profession of faith".

 We can add this commission as Paul saw it.

 2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

And Paul continued.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

 This message of Paul extends to every man called by God to preach.

 Next Paul tells us who gave him his commission:

 (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Paul states that no man gave him this commission but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself after God the Father had raised Him from the dead.

There would have been no need to preach a Gospel if God the Father had not raised Jesus from the dead!

 We serve a living Savior!

Our God is alive because He is the Almighty Living God.

 What did God tell Moses?

 Exo 34:5  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 

Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 This is the God who we serve!

But notice if ignore this God that Moses saw, then we more than likely send our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren to Hell also.

 If that man standing behind the pulpit of any church does not have the same calling as the Apostle Paul, then he does not deserve to be called pastor, preacher, evangelist, or any name associated with the calling of Jesus Christ!

 These Galatians needed to understand this as well as those who were once Jews.

 Some are called by the Holy Spirit to be Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries for sure, but every child of God also has a commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. 

 Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 

 Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

 There should not be any doubt that we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ, God's Messiah.

 It was a painful moment when Paul first became aware that some counterfeit preachers, who were Judaizers, questioned the validity of his calling, but Paul was strong in the Lord and full of the Holy Spirit.

 How can a counterfeit preacher judge anybody’s calling, but they do because they belong to the true counterfeit Satan?

 It was they who had no calling at all except for Satan's calling.

 *****Gal 1:2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

 The Preacher of God must be recognized as the Lord's man by all Christian believers!

 Paul was not alone; he had some Christian believers with him who agreed with everything Paul preached.

 Timothy and Titus were probably part of those with Paul and there were others.

 Paul knew that there was safety in numbers.

 Paul never forgot that He was a member of the Church.

 Paul spoke out to the Churches of Galatia with not a word of praise or privilege.

 All the other Churches, even the Corinthians received a kinder salutation because they had not "erred concerning the faith" as had these Galatians.

 The word Church was used for:

 1) A body of believers, "the entire congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the world".

 Paul was not the only one who was spreading the Gospel at this time, Paul was the one who was writing the Bible as the Holy Spirit led Him.

 Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon "this rock" I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 2) The word Church could also mean a particular congregation under the same ministry of God's Word.

 1Co 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 

 3) The word Church is also used for those who assemble in one Church to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 

 It should also be very clear that all around the world some gather together to worship some god, but not the Lord Jesus Christ, they are not part of the Church, and neither should they be called a Church.

 The news sources have a field day when every building they see where people gather is called a church when this is not true.

 If we are not the brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are not part of the Church!

 If we are not in unity with the Word of God, we are not part of the Church!

 True brothers and sisters in Christ have a deep rich bond and relationship when that bond is with Jesus Christ.

 We should be clear when we attack the preacher who preaches the truth of Jesus Christ, and then we have given up our privileges in the Church.

 It is the Word of God, the entire Word of God, from a legitimate translation of the original Scriptures, that the Church is based upon and there are no additions, and it cannot be modernized because if God gave a new Word today it would be a replica of the Word, He has already given to us.

 There are no errors in the true Word of God!

 The Word of God is true in every generation and the Word of God will be here when most all the world is gone.

 The Word of God is alive.

 1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

 A true Christian will defend every other Christian and come to the aid of brothers and sisters when they are attacked when they are declaring the truth of God.

 And then came Grace.

 *****Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 

 To be sure there would be no Church and no believers without there being first the Grace of God!

 Act_20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

 2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 This verse perfectly describes the true Christian!

 It is Grace that is the gift of God!

 Eph_2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 Tit_2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the person who came by Grace, He is the living picture of God's grace!

 It is because of the Grace of God that we can find peace in this world!

 Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

 Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

 There should be no doubt that we are saved by the "Grace of God"!

 That grace comes to us in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 *****Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Gal 1:5  To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

 Here is another place where we can see the will of God! 

It is the Will of God that we be delivered from this present evil world.

 It is the will of God that we are delivered from sin, and this was done by the sacrifice of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, God's Messiah.

 We cannot talk about being pardoned without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about justification without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about the acceptance of God without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about eternal life without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about salvation without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about God's "Grace" without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ!

 Our salvation depends upon the voluntary act of Jesus, our blessed Lord, to "reconcile" His Heavenly Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for our guilt but also for all the actual sins of all mankind.

 Oh, What a Savior!

 The Father gave a Son. The Son gave Himself!

 The Lord Jesus did not merely denounce our sins, this would have been a mockery, Moses and all the Prophets had already done this.

 His death was for our sins!

 This was the Job of Paul and every preacher since Paul, to explain the difference!

 Many have failed to make this clear.

 The Lord Jesus had the power to die for our sins and He had the power to resurrect from that death.

 The Lord Jesus gave Himself for us because we needed to be washed in his blood!

 Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

 To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen

 When the world looks up to that glorious nighttime sky, most of them take no notice of it because they believe it happened by accident, but if you really look, you have to see the Glory of God.

 God the Father does little things all the time and He always has, but they go unnoticed, but when God the Father does something big, He wants all the world to take notice.

 God wanted all the world to see the truth of His Son Jesus!

 Our Heavenly Father did these things that He might deliver us from sin and this present evil world!

 The world was evil in the days of Jesus, and it has gotten very much worse today, but for those who believe in the truth of God, our sins have been paid for we are sin-free.

 Paul said all these things to cause these churches at Galatia to remember that they were saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that there is no other gospel, period.

 *****Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7  Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

 When we need to be praising God, we see America going against the Word of God because people have forgotten the truth of God which says we are to "love one another".

 What is wrong with America?

 2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 Before we get to verse six, we see that Paul has presented the truth of the Gospel in the previous verses.

 We just cannot afford to allow false teachers into the Church!

 There is no other Gospel than the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 When any church departs from the faith, they are no longer a church, they are just a group of people gathering together for no means except to fall into Satan's trap!

 After learning the truth of the gospel by the grace of God, Judaizers had come and given them a false gospel which was not the Gospel.

 God loves us so much that He has provided a way for us to become righteous and acceptable to Him and this is the only way.

 There will never be another way to get to Heaven than going through the Lord Jesus Christ and there are still thousands of people who think there is another way.

 This is the only way God has shown His love to us where it is meaningful.

 We cannot be justified in any other way than by the grace of God than comes by the Lord Jesus Christ

 God will still love us when He sends us to Hell, but He has to judge sin!

 Martin Luther said, "From Christ who called you in grace".

 Grace is the Lord's free and unmerited favor and goodness, as opposed to all notions of salvation by moral or ceremonial righteousness.

 The person who turns away from the Gospel is not turning away from a set of beliefs or principles, nor a church.

 That person has turned away from God who sent His love to that person.

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 We cannot throw away this scripture and then say we are saved!

 *****Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

 Sometimes that false teacher only has to add a little addition or leave out a little truth and it becomes a false Gospel.

 It is the same as some teacher intentionally subtracting a truth of the Gospel.

 Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

 I think this is the teaching that is going on in many so-called churches today.

 It is evident what God feels about these teachers, they will be accursed.

 Accursed means separated from the will of God who they are separated from, and suffering even more than the Lost on "Judgment Day"!

 You have to ask yourself why anyone would do such a thing, and the only answer is the Devil.

 2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

 Anyone preaching a false Gospel is one of Satan's demons or Satan himself.

 We must understand that the "Gospel" is more important than the Apostle Paul even though the Apostle Paul was probably the greatest Christian who has ever lived.

 The "Gospel" is greater than all the angels in Heaven. Even if an angel came from Heaven and preached another Gospel, we would have to reject him.

 The "Gospel" is greater than any man who has walked upon this earth and any man who does so in the future.

The truth of the "Gospel" is settled and cannot be changed here or in Heaven!

 The preachers of any false gospel are doubly cursed. This means they will be sent to the hottest part of Hell!

 *****Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

The Judaizers came into the churches of Galatia suggesting that Paul preached only one side of the Gospel and there was room for their false preaching, which was the Laws of Moses.

This is the same thing going on today where the false church is told that there is more than one way to get to Heaven.

Paul taught that there is no Gospel other than what they had heard from him, which is the truth.

There can only be one truth!

These are the same questions we ask ourselves today!

We should ask ourselves; "What has been the effect of the Gospel on my life"?

"Have I been redeemed" out of this world, a world that will pass away, into a place that is supposed to be the grandest of all places?

Do I live according to the will of my Heavenly Father?

Paul asked himself if he was to satisfy men or to satisfy God.

Paul came to the conclusion that if he indeed pleased men who had not heard the Gospel then he would not be a servant of Jesus Christ.

We can learn so much from the actions of the Apostle Paul!

John and Peter came to the same conclusion.

Act 4:19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

Act 4:20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 

It is the same with our own Pastor Preacher Sam.

It is His job to preach the truth of the Gospel even if we do not like the message!

We must understand that the Gospel has some hard truths.

The Lord Jesus asks us to put our faith in a man we have never seen who claims to be God when the world at that time killed because they said He was a fake.

Jesus asks us to believe in a place that we cannot even imagine the glory of.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians;

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.   

Which is a love greater than just being affectionate, it is closer God’s love

I do not believe Paul was a self-made man of God,

I do not believe that Paul used the Gospel as a way for an income.

I do believe Paul sought to please God and not man.

I do believe Paul proclaimed the true Gospel.

I do believe that Paul had a radical change of life.

Our goal must be to be more like Jesus, and this begins just as soon as we accept Him as our Savior.

Php_3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

What is the Gospel truth?

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

So, it boils down to faith!

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

Paul admitted that once he was a man-pleaser, a time when he sought the approval of man for his actions.

Paul now said because the Gospel had changed him, he no longer sought the approval of man but the approval of God.

Paul said honor, position, and wealth were no longer important to him.

Paul now wanted one thing and one thing only: the favor and the approval of God!

2Co_5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Amen

The Return of Christ

 Confidence in the Coming of Jesus

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4

The Apostle Paul continues with these things of the coming of the Lord from Chapter three verse thirteen.

As Christians we must be encouraged to know that all saints who have gone before us are resting in the presence of the Lord and we are confident that we will see them again at the coming of the Lord.

There may be differences in the many denominations of Christianity, but the return of Jesus Christ is not one of them.

The return of our Lord Jesus is mentioned more than three hundred times in the New Testament.

There are entire chapters given to the discussion of the return of Christ.

In the Book of Matthew Chapters 13, 24 and 25.

In the Book of Mark Chapter 13

In the Book of Luke Chapter 21

In this Book of Thessalonians we are studying now, along with Book Two, the majority of these Scriptures deal with the return of the Lord.

Much of the Book of Revelation deals with the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ taught us that His return would be a literal, physical event.

Jesus said He would return just as His disciples seen Him depart.

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

Jesus Christ is returning to take those who love Him back home to His Father's house, which is now our home.

Our mortal bodies will be changed to glorified bodies just as His body.

1Jn_3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

The truth is, we must always be prepared for the coming of our Lord as it could happen at any moment now.

We are approaching the end of the Church Age which means the destruction of this world is very near.

There will be a New Heaven and a New earth because it is sin that has marred both places, both caused by that person known as Satan who is soon to be bound in Hell which is the place God has designed for him.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 

2Pe 3:12  Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 

2Pe 3:13  Nevertheless we, "according to his promise", look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. 

*****1Th 4:1  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

1Th 4:2  For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 

This is what the Church calls today, "The Believer's Walk".

Once we are saved, we are to walk to please God!

We are to live as God tells us how to live by keeping God's commandments.

We are to walk in the will of God for our lives.

We are to walk to please God.

We cannot please God without faith in the truth of His Words.

Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we cannot believe God is who He says He is as described in the Word of God, then we cannot please Him.

If we cannot please Him then He cannot accept us!

*****1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

1Th 4:4  That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 

1Th 4:5  Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 

Paul first mentions sanctification of the body.

What is sanctification? It is God's will that we give ourselves to the work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christianity is a walk with the Lord Jesus Christ!

To be a Christian is not an ornament that we wear, it is a life always progressing in the will of God for our lives.

The love of God is the mightiest power in the life of each Christian.

We know that God is holy and we must strive to be holy to be more like Him.

Sanctification means we are to resist the passion of lust.

Sanctification means that we know how to control our body.

When we begin to lust, then we will soon become enslaved to lust.

The passion of lust is the way of our world today.

This is why there is such a battle for abortion!

People cannot contain their lust so they need to be able to stop the consequences of that lust.

This is why there is such battle for LGBT movement because people cannot contain their lust.

This is not the way of God!

It is the lifestyle of those who do not know God!

Fornication is any sexual act outside the bonds of a marriage between one man and one woman!

1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

1Pe 4:3  For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

Concupiscence is intense desire always in a bad sense, the passion for sexual lust.

*****1Th 4:6  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 

1Th 4:7  For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 

1Th 4:8  He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. 

There are many reasons we are to live pure lives:

1) Immorality defrauds and cheats a brother or sister in Christ.

It either takes a wife from her husband or it takes a husband from his wife.

We know that most of the time that the trust and affection that were once in that marriage cannot be completely recovered.

That marriage and bond of trust is gone forever!

This same thing effects those who are unmarried when fornication takes place.

2) God shall revenge immorality.

Immorality is accepted and even encouraged in our society today.

How can we say it is encouraged? Look at television and films. Look at advertisements and promotions. Look at the way the world dresses. Listen to suggestive words and actions that are acceptable today.

God is going to judge immoral behavior and we have the example of Sodom and Gomorrah.

3) God did not call us to immorality, God called us to holiness!

God would never call a person to do such things. Immorality may be the greatest destructive force in our world today!

Immorality has destroyed the family model that makes societies prosper.

4) Immorality is a sin against God!

When God despises something, it means He rejects it.

The world says the commandments of God are old fashioned and unacceptable in an intellectual and enlightened society.

It is obvious that our societies have crumbled till they do not exist accept in the minds of the wicked.

The world may not be able to do anything to us if we break the commandments of God, but it is a fact unless we repent, we will receive the full vengeance of a Holy God!

Each true Christian is the home of the Holy Spirit and we must not defile the Holy Spirit, we must keep our bodies holy.

It must be our ambition to please God!

*****1Th 4:9  But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 

1Th 4:10  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

As we arise every morning the first thought we should have is to please God in our actions each day.

The word used for brotherly love in the Greek is "Philadelphia".

We now that there is a city in America named Philadelphia which was at one time known as the city of "brotherly love".

But brotherly love is the love that is required in the Church just as it is in our families.

Brotherly love is that love of Christians to Christians all around this world.

We cannot allow this world to divide us and it cannot if we all have that same message that comes by the Word of God.

There is only "One Word of God" and it is not to be altered!

Brotherly love is that love that shows this wicked world the love we have within the Church of the Living God!

This is a love that cannot fail because it is a love that should be growing within each of us!

This love “Philadelphia” comes from God to each Christian but our preachers still need to remind us of this love because we need each other to make it through this life we have now before we go home to be with the Lord.

Heaven will be a place of brotherly love.

It is not always easy to show brotherly love in this corrupt world we live in where love is interpreted as "lust".

As Christians we need that strong bond of brotherly love in order to stand against the temptations and our walk through the sufferings of this life.

The greatest threat to the Church is the internal strife that comes as we allow the world to come into the Church and dictate a false narrative.

The Church is sinking today because of worldly philosophies that cause confusion.

Our world is not billions of years old.

Humans have not evolved from monkeys or any other species.

Our climate has been changing from day one.

Why will all these great scientist not tell you that if all pollution is removed from our atmosphere, it will be so hot that we will not be able to live outdoors?

There is always a need to grow increasingly in the Lord and grow more and more in His love for us that we can show to each other.

This great church of the Thessalonians were noted for the love they showed throughout all of Macedonia.

*****1Th 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 

1Th 4:12  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. 

What is it to study to be quiet?

We are to put forth the effort to live quiet and peaceable lives.

At the same time, we inflict a real loss to society if we do not speak for the truth, but allow those to say too much who need to say very little or say nothing at all.

This is why there is so much filth in our world today because the Church has been too quiet.

The wicked voices of immorality are speaking the loudest today and they have bent the ears of our liberal government.

We must certainly put forth the effort to live quiet and peaceable lives, but there are times we must take a stand.

Eph 6:10  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 

Eph 6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, "that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day", and having done all, "to stand".

It is our duty to mind our own business, but it is also our duty to take care of our families.

We are not to be busybodies nor meddle in the affairs of others nor try to change the direction of this world.

Our job remains to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ and take a stand on the truth of God.

If we do this, the Holy Spirit will certainly do what He came upon this earth to do.

If we cannot keep our own affairs straight, then how could we ever change the affairs of others.

We must avoid looking like we are everybody's judge!

If we commit our lives to the truth of the Word of God, we will not have time to meddle in the affairs of others.

We need to work with our own hands to supply the needs of our families so we do not become a burden to the Church.

Very few people have any respect for those who are able to work, but refuse to do so, insisting that someone else should be providing for them.

God has no patience for those who will not work!

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

2Th_3:10  For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

As Christians, we must set the example for working to provide our own needs being able then, to help others who are unable to provide for themselves, but not for those who have the ability to provide for themselves and refuse to do so.

We have far too many things to consider in our lives than to worry about our fellow brothers and sisters and family who have gone on before us.

*****1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

Paul continues with the subject of the return of Jesus Christ.

The same Bible that tells us how to be saved, also teaches us how live throughout eternity with our Savior.

This same Bible that teaches us how we are to live in this life and be good Christians.

This is also the same Bible that tells us of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord Jesus will return to this earth to claim all believers to Himself!

Most of the world rejects that there will be an afterlife upon our death, but the world is wrong again.

At the moment of our death, our soul returns to be with our Savior.

2Co_5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

How do we know this? 

2Co_4:14  Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

The Lord Jesus has resurrection power!

When that soul gets to Heaven there will also be given a temporary body.

Rev_6:11  And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

You cannot put a robe upon a soul or a spirit.

We should understand that every Christian alive, and all those who have already gone to Heaven, will gather together with the Lord Jesus when we meet Him in the clouds.

We must not be ignorant of the power of the resurrection of Christ!

The fact of the Lord's return should arouse concern in us for our family members who are not saved, some friends that are not saved, and for the lost in general.

There is absolutely no hope for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ, but for the believer, our hope is in the Lord.

*****1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

No doubt that everyone who goes down by the graveyard a loved one will grieve for them because someone we love is no longer with us.

Our grief will be easier to take, when we know that we will see them again and we will live together throughout eternity in a place where even paradise is not a good enough word to describe it.

All our brothers and sisters in Christ will return with Him when He returns.

This passage is proof that all departed believers are already with Jesus in Heaven.

We do not have to wonder where they are!

To be asleep in Jesus, is not some semi-conscious state or some form of deep sleep as some believe.

Sleep is only a soft word used by believers to describe our departure from this world.

It could be said that while we are asleep in Jesus, then we are no longer suffering from the persecutions of this world.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

If we have trusted the Lord in our life time, we can certainly trust in the Lord when we leave this world behind!

We can never die because our Lord Jesus has already died in our place!

This is one of the reasons that there had to be cross in the life of Our Savior.

The body of each believer will first be raised before those who are alive and remain are called to meet the Lord in the air.

1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

How can we have doubt in the return of Jesus Christ, when He has said so many times that He will certainly return to take us all home to be with Him in the New Heaven.

*****1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be "caught up together" with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When we deny the return of Jesus Christ we are calling Him a liar.

The Lord Jesus Christ in all His glory will descend from Heaven in that same glorified human body that He ascended back to Heaven.

Act 1:11  Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. 

The Lord Jesus is not returning as a lowly shepherd, but in the Majesty and in Divine power that He alone possesses.

We need only remember that day when our Lord called Lazarus from his tomb.

Joh_11:43  And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

When the Lord shouts this time, He will just shout come forth "My" people.

Or if we remember the Hebrew weddings in that day and the parable of the ten virgins. "Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 

We can be sure that every child of God will hear this shout even those in the grave.

There will be no unbeliever who will be resurrected at this time for that resurrection occurs on the day of "judgment".

This is what we know of as the White Throne Judgment.

Even the remnants of that believer that has been in the grave for many years will be reunited with that part that has been in Heaven for many years.

1Th 5:23  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Every believer will hear the shout of our Lord because He is the Captain of our salvation!

Those believers who are alive at the moment of His arrival will then be changed.

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

If we are to live with God in His realm, then we must have a body fashioned after His body as no flesh can live in the New Heaven.

2Co 5:1  For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 

That phrase "caught up together" gives us the meaning of the Rapture.

That word "caught" implies, "seized, snatched up by an irresistible force" to be with our Savior amid the clouds such as happened on the day of the transfiguration of our Lord.

Mat 17:5  While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 

So shall we ever be with the Lord!

It is on this wonderful day that we will finally reach perfection!

We will meet all the saints of God who had gone on before us.

We will be reunited with our loved ones and friends who have gone before us.

We will see the Lord Jesus face to face.

We will meet the God of all creation who had this masterful plan of our salvation.

Joh 8:51  Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death. 

We will never see death because the Lord Jesus Himself died in our place.

Amen